VILLA HUMILIATED BY CLASSY ROVERS

By Ryan Ghee
February 12 2006

Aston Villa were dumped out of the Carling Cup this evening as they were humiliated by League One outfit Doncaster Rovers. In a match dominated by the so-called 'lesser' team of the two, Villa failed to even have a shot on target as 'Donnie' cruised through with a comfortable three goal cushion.

With the hosts putting on a dazzling display for their supporters, the visitors putting on a nightmare show for their own fans, and the officials failing to do their job, this fourth round Carling Cup clash was only ever going to have one outcome.

However, it must be said that I do not intend to take anything away from this great day in Doncaster's history by criticising the performance of the referee and his assistant because, without a shadow of a doubt, the best team on the pitch will be in the hat for the quarter final draw.

From the very first whistle to the very last, Doncaster controlled proceedings and thanks to a combination of deadly composure in front of goal and a helping hand from Villa's defence, 'Donnie', as they are affectionately known to their supporters, deservedly brushed their Premiership opposition aside.

In fact, the defending from Olof Mellberg, Jlloyd Samuel and co. was so awful that it would be fair to compare it to that of a Sunday League team. Saying that however, this might be deemed an offensive comment; not to the 'mighty' Villa but to the poor side who is being compared to them. At least the Sunday League team may show some trace of ambition, belief and commitment; three things which were clearly missing from a complacent Villa side.

With Doncaster showing early belief in themselves, they created numerous openings in the first part of the game with the inspirational McIndoe setting up Mulligan for the first chance of the evening and the winger then having a shot of his own which flew just wide of Sorensen's right-hand post.

The Villans looked on in shock as their hosts continued to dominate them and with 20 minutes on the clock, James Coppinger's cross was met by the arm of Liam Ridgewell and fittingly, it was McIndoe himself who cooly slotted home from the spot to give 'Donnie' a dream start to one of the biggest games in their long history.

The remainder of the first period followed the same trend as Villa sat back in horror as the League One outfit continued to press in the hope of adding a second goal.

Thankfully for Villa, despite hardly even touching the ball, the home side's possession bore no further reward and the home fans had only one goal to celebrate at half time.

With O'Leary's team just one goal down at the interval, you would have expected them to come out for the second period believing that they could overturn the defecit and force their way through to the quarter finals of the competition.

However, with the second half getting underway, it became clear that O'Leary's men had no intentions of losing their costly complacency and the home side continued to bring the game to Villa.

After only eight second half minutes, after a Doncaster free kick was taken 25 yards further forward to where the actual foul was committed, Lewis knocked the ball down to Heffernan who, played onside by the ineffective Jlloyd Samuel, calmly slotted the ball past Thomas Sorensen.

With that second goal came not only jubilant celebrations from the Doncaster players, management and fans, but also the final nail in the Villa coffin; one which signalled the end of this season's Carling Cup dream.

With 12 minutes remaining and Villa trying to work out how to have a shot on goal, Milan Baros ripped through the opposing defence only to be hacked down by Steve Foster, and only to be denied a stone-wall penalty from the apparently blind Mike Dean.

Had Villa been awarded the penalty, things may have turned out very differently. However, if the game had turned out differently, it would have been a huge injustice on the part of the their superb hosts who deservingly added a third goal through the influential Sean Thornton.

With 80 minutes on the clock, the ex-Sunderland man skipped two typically half-hearted Villa challenges before rifling a deflected shot past the helpless Thomas Sorensen.

With the game in the bag, the home fans singing 'It's just like watching Brazil' and the visiting supporters rushing for the exits, Doncaster refused to give their flailing opponents even a mere consolation and on the final whistle, the Doncaster dream became a reality and the Belle Vue pitch became a flood of red and white as the fans swamped the pitch to congratulate their deserving heroes.